A-Infos (en) FZLN communique'/Queretaro/Votan-Zapata/FIOZ

["Smoke Peregrine" <smokeperegrine@hotmail.com>]

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     A - I N F O S  N E W S  S E R V I C E
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The following is a translation by David
<smokeperegrine@hotmail.com> of a
previous posting to this list:
-> Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 03:05:51 -0600
-> From: mapache <uvipe@sisnet.com.mx>
-> Subject: (ca) comunicado del fzln/Queretaro ccd/votan-zapata y del 
FIOZ
-----
If anyone can translate the following texts into
English, Thanks!
[don't mention it! --Translator's note]
-------------------------------------------

	Communique' read out during the meeting
held on 11 February in the town of Queritaro in
Mexico, in order to demand freedom for three
political prisoners in the town.

	ZAPATISTA NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT

	VOTAN-ZAPATA CIVILIAN COMMITTEE

	Queritaro, 11 Feb 1998
	In view of the events of 5 February 1998
in the town of Queritaro, and their subsequent
effects, the Votan-Zapata Civilian Committee of
the Zapatista National Liberation Front has
several considerations which it wishes to bring
to the attention of civilian society; local,
national and international political organizations,
and to the communications media, here and abroad.
These are:

	1. That the acts of violence which
were provoked by the act of the comemmoration
of the signing of the constitution are in
compliance with a State policy characterized
by excessive force as the main face that the
regime shows. This was demonstrated that day
with a colossal police presence, who provoked,
threatened and assaulted members of the different
organizations and institutions who were
demonstrating.
	2. That the violence reported across
the country is the product of a process of
political decomposition that the government is
resonsable for, and at the same time, unable
to find a solution to. This is because of a
lack of political will evident in its response
to key problems like State murders, killings
of peasants or the drug trafficking which goes
on even in its own departments.
	3. That the desperation of the sectors
hardest hit by neo-liberal policies, which is
expressed in the acute economic and social
crisis, has been an aggravating factor that
has not been dealt with in an efficient and
appropriate way, due to the intransigent lack
of political will and ability of the various
levels of government, whose attitude of denial
sets back, in an irresponsible manner, the
possiblities of a solution to social questions,
condemning the population to precarious
conditions of life, considering only the
interests of financial institutions and the
World Bank.
	4. That on 5 February, we, the FZLN's
civilian committees in the locality where we
demonstrated, declared for the fulfilment of
the San Andre's Agreements and the incorporation
of indigenous rights and culture into the
Constitution. This action was carried out firmly
but peacefully, as is the character of our
organization, which works on the construction
of a national political force which struggles
by peaceful methods for democracy, freedom
and a form of peace with justice and dignity.
For no reason must it be allowed to become
established that the actions of groups
--with or without political affiliation-- which
take part in violence, are expressions of
civilian zapatismo; the FZLN is in essence a
peaceful organization.
	5. That the State's response is extemely
authoritarian, in attributing responsability to
a specific organization without considering the
presence of many diverse towns and groups, even
going as far as harassment and assaults perpetrated
by provocateurs with military haircuts, dressed
as civilians, who are always to be found when
such events occur.
	6. That civilian zapatismo does not talk
with the government. The Zapatista National
Liberation Front is part of, and is nourished
by civilian society.  We do not expect or aspire
to gain the permission of the State to form this
great force which will contribute to the
peaceful transition to democracy, we shall
carry on the struggle in the streets and squares
without taking fright.

	Through the above, we declare our
support for the political prisoners (Anselmo
Robles, Pascual Lucas and Sergio Jero'nimo)
and we will monitor the fulfilment of their
civil and human rights, moreover we reject
any harassing or intimidating of social 
leaders and we will be ready to resist any
attempt at a witch-hunt, condemning the State's
trying to avoid its responsibility for
the violent deeds of 5 February and for a
solution of social problems, by using a
spectacle of threats and repression.

     DEMOCRACY!    FREEDOM!   AND    JUSTICE!
///////////////////////////////////////////////////


	FIOZ leaflet given out on 11 February
at the demonstration for the freeing of
the political prisoners.

     TO THE PEOPLE OF QUERETARO:
	We, The poorest people in Queretaro,
are being savagely beaten by those currently
in government, who have at their disposal
police forces, insufficient for dealing with
crime, but effective for hitting defenceless
people and imprisoning social activists. They
have the whole judicial apparatus at their
beck and call. They have the communications 
media, which are unconditionally pro-government,
who rather that objectively inform of events,
only pass on what they feel they want to.
	Many of us poor people in Querataro don't
have what they have, in the best cases our
families live on a daily wage of $26.05 pesos.
We lack everything; this is why we struggle,
to have something of what others have in
abundance.
	WE KNOW THAT DIGNITY IS ONLY THING THEY
CAN'T SNATCH AWAY FROM US.
	We learnt this from our comrades, Anselmo
Robles, Pascual Lucas Julian and professor Sergio
Jero'nimo Sanchez Saenz,
	BECAUSE OF ALL THIS WE ASK THE PEOPLE 
OF QUERETARO NOT TO LET THEMSELVES BE TAKEN IN
BY MEDIA LIES. THEY ARE VICTIMS OF A FRAME-UP.
THEIR ONLY CRIME IS TEACHING US TO FIGHT 
WITH DIGNITY.
	We know our comrades aren't criminals,
they're prisoners of conscience, that is,
gaoled for political reasons, because of which
we DEMAND:
    IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL FREEDOM FOR THE
    SOCIAL ACTIVISTS, ANSELMO ROBLES, PASCUAL
    LUCAS Y SERGIO JERONIMO SANCHEZ.

    FIOZ  (Independent Front of Zapatista Organizations)
 -------------------------------------------------
Information and questions: uvipe@sisnet.com.mx

End
---------------------
 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
 Dans parlement, il y a parle et ment.  (Leo Campion)
---------------------
 David
 smokeperegrine@hotmail.com
End of signature.
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